Ford government spent more than a week planning ‘end-of-day’ science centre closure

Science and Health

The Ford government’s controversial decision to permanently close the Ontario Science Centre was made at least one week before employees and the public were informed, Global News has learned, raising questions over why it was shuttered so urgently at the beginning of the summer.
The science centre was fenced off from the public and closed just hours after an announcement on Friday, June 21. The rush, the government said at the time, was due to the urgent safety issues plaguing the building.Internal emails obtained through freedom of information laws, however, reveal that the province began working on the plan to close the structure and sell its key message to the public at least 10 days before the announcement was made.A trove of emails between government communication staff and senior Infrastructure Ontario officials show that a news release announcing the sudden closure was being prepared as early as June 11, while a plan to fence off the building was greenlit on June 17. Story continues below advertisement

The Ministry of Infrastructure has repeatedly stated that the closure was necessary due to the risk posed by panels in the roof of the Ontario Science Centre.The premier’s office told Global News that the government announced the closure once “mitigation measures” like alternative summer camp plans were in place. They said the announcement was made as quickly as possible after the engineering report was sent to the government.“When the final report was delivered, the shutdown happened as soon as it was feasible to do so, only a few days later,” the premier’s office said.

‘Rush review’

Emails and attachments obtained by Global News show a version of the government’s announcement was being prepared more than a week before the closure, as staff with both the Ministry of Infrastructure and Infrastructure Ontario poured over the details of how to present the plan. Story continues below advertisement

On June 11, a communications official with the Ministry of Infracture sent an email to Infrastructure Ontario, asking the Crown agency to conduct a “rush” review of “announcement products” they were working on related to the science centre.The email said “products” for the “upcoming OSC announcement” were made up of:

Related News

Workers say goodbye to an almost-empty Ontario Science Centre as repairs get underway

Schools with roof panels that shut Ontario Science Centre have no budget to replace them

Media AdvisoryNews releaseSocial postDraft Michael Robertson’s remarks for the tech briefingQ&AMedia Protocol

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At the time, the Crown agency was still awaiting the results of an engineering report that assessed the structural integrity of the science centre’s roof, including the panels and aerated concrete materials used in its construction in the 1960s.However, even as engineers put the finishing touches on the report, officials at Infrastructure Ontario appeared to have a firm understanding of the primary issue, alongside government staff.“Right now some of the answers are very directly pointing to roof panels as the culprit,” wrote one Infrastructure Ontario communication official on June 12.“Engineers reviewing the roof conditions say the condition of roof panels above the Great Hall and elsewhere require closure by Oct. 31.”The report was sent to Infrastructure Ontario in its final form on June 18, three days before the announcement and at least a week after work on the closure began. Story continues below advertisement

‘Link the engineering report findings’

The internal emails also appear to capture work by officials to craft a “narrative” about why the science centre was being shuttered based on a yet-to-be-finished expert report.“There are three steps I think that link the engineering report findings/advice to government’s decision to close more immediately,” an Infrastructure Ontario communications official said in a June 12 email.The next day, on June 13, emails show that communications staffers were working on a finalized copy of a news release — eight days before the urgent announcement was to be made.The work included drafting a quote from a senior civil servant, explaining why the closure was taking place. The contents of that quote were apparently subject to government oversight.“For the quote, hoping you can get an (Infrastructure Ontario) approved quote over to us asap so we can include it for (Minister’s Office) and (Premier’s Office) approval,” a strategic advisor for the Ministry of Infrastructure wrote. Story continues below advertisement

The emails suggest that the process included regular consultations with Infrastructure Minister Surma’s office, with staff kept in the loop and offered opportunities to share feedback on the plan.“The main request from (Ministry of Infrastructure) I have tried to address is to flesh out a bit of detail on what types of building issues were identified at the time of the business case, so that we can say, ‘and since then, we’ve had more issues…’,” another Infrastructure Ontario email states.The day before the announcement was made, an internal message made it clear who was ultimately in charge of the decision.“Tomorrow’s announcement is being led by the Ministry,” an Infrastructure Ontario official wrote. “As such, any media calls will be immediately referred to (the Ministry of Infrastructure).”Minister Surma did not appear at the announcement or take questions about it on the day the closure was confirmed. Her office did not address questions about why she was absent from an announcement her team was leading.

‘Green light for the fencing to start’

With the communications strategy out of the way, Infrastructure Ontario turned its attention to ensuring access to the Ontario Science Centre was swiftly and efficiently closed — all while employees continued to work inside the building. Story continues below advertisement

On June 17, work began to fence off the attraction, with the plan apparently specifically drawn up to avoid tipping people off to the plan to close the structure.“We have a green light for the fencing to start through BGIS,” a senior Infrastructure Ontario official wrote on June 17, referencing a facility management service that seems to have been retained to help with the fence work.“Let us work on the back of house areas first where we are not going to get a lot of attention, but we need to move it forward quickly. We need to be prepped to push the FINAL button on fencing on Thursday night or Friday AM or Friday PM.”

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More videos

A fence was eventually put around the building on the morning of June 21, prompting groups like Save the Ontario Science Centre to head to the site, fearing a closure was coming.“They not only kept it secret, they hired an army of private security to keep people away while they were constructing the fence,” Floyd Ruskin, co-chair of Save the Ontario Science Centre, said.“Our team was there on the Friday morning, the posts for the gates had already been installed — so that means holes were dug, concrete was poured.”While the government has made its intention to relocate the science centre to Ontario Place public since April 2023, the sudden closure — with almost no time between announcement and doors closing for the last time — caught many by surprise. Story continues below advertisement

Ruskin’s group has overseen a letter-writing campaign to save the attraction. He said a key theme in the messages sent to the government was frustration from families that they couldn’t say goodbye.“One of the biggest things said is, ‘We would have liked to have an opportunity to visit one more time,” he said.

Related News

Ford government spent more than a week planning ‘end-of-day’ science centre closure

Science and Health

The Ford government’s controversial decision to permanently close the Ontario Science Centre was made at least one week before employees and the public were informed, Global News has learned, raising questions over why it was shuttered so urgently at the beginning of the summer.
The science centre was fenced off from the public and closed just hours after an announcement on Friday, June 21. The rush, the government said at the time, was due to the urgent safety issues plaguing the building.Internal emails obtained through freedom of information laws, however, reveal that the province began working on the plan to close the structure and sell its key message to the public at least 10 days before the announcement was made.A trove of emails between government communication staff and senior Infrastructure Ontario officials show that a news release announcing the sudden closure was being prepared as early as June 11, while a plan to fence off the building was greenlit on June 17. Story continues below advertisement

The Ministry of Infrastructure has repeatedly stated that the closure was necessary due to the risk posed by panels in the roof of the Ontario Science Centre.The premier’s office told Global News that the government announced the closure once “mitigation measures” like alternative summer camp plans were in place. They said the announcement was made as quickly as possible after the engineering report was sent to the government.“When the final report was delivered, the shutdown happened as soon as it was feasible to do so, only a few days later,” the premier’s office said.

‘Rush review’

Emails and attachments obtained by Global News show a version of the government’s announcement was being prepared more than a week before the closure, as staff with both the Ministry of Infrastructure and Infrastructure Ontario poured over the details of how to present the plan. Story continues below advertisement

On June 11, a communications official with the Ministry of Infracture sent an email to Infrastructure Ontario, asking the Crown agency to conduct a “rush” review of “announcement products” they were working on related to the science centre.The email said “products” for the “upcoming OSC announcement” were made up of:

Related News

Workers say goodbye to an almost-empty Ontario Science Centre as repairs get underway

Schools with roof panels that shut Ontario Science Centre have no budget to replace them

Media AdvisoryNews releaseSocial postDraft Michael Robertson’s remarks for the tech briefingQ&AMedia Protocol

Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

At the time, the Crown agency was still awaiting the results of an engineering report that assessed the structural integrity of the science centre’s roof, including the panels and aerated concrete materials used in its construction in the 1960s.However, even as engineers put the finishing touches on the report, officials at Infrastructure Ontario appeared to have a firm understanding of the primary issue, alongside government staff.“Right now some of the answers are very directly pointing to roof panels as the culprit,” wrote one Infrastructure Ontario communication official on June 12.“Engineers reviewing the roof conditions say the condition of roof panels above the Great Hall and elsewhere require closure by Oct. 31.”The report was sent to Infrastructure Ontario in its final form on June 18, three days before the announcement and at least a week after work on the closure began. Story continues below advertisement

‘Link the engineering report findings’

The internal emails also appear to capture work by officials to craft a “narrative” about why the science centre was being shuttered based on a yet-to-be-finished expert report.“There are three steps I think that link the engineering report findings/advice to government’s decision to close more immediately,” an Infrastructure Ontario communications official said in a June 12 email.The next day, on June 13, emails show that communications staffers were working on a finalized copy of a news release — eight days before the urgent announcement was to be made.The work included drafting a quote from a senior civil servant, explaining why the closure was taking place. The contents of that quote were apparently subject to government oversight.“For the quote, hoping you can get an (Infrastructure Ontario) approved quote over to us asap so we can include it for (Minister’s Office) and (Premier’s Office) approval,” a strategic advisor for the Ministry of Infrastructure wrote. Story continues below advertisement

The emails suggest that the process included regular consultations with Infrastructure Minister Surma’s office, with staff kept in the loop and offered opportunities to share feedback on the plan.“The main request from (Ministry of Infrastructure) I have tried to address is to flesh out a bit of detail on what types of building issues were identified at the time of the business case, so that we can say, ‘and since then, we’ve had more issues…’,” another Infrastructure Ontario email states.The day before the announcement was made, an internal message made it clear who was ultimately in charge of the decision.“Tomorrow’s announcement is being led by the Ministry,” an Infrastructure Ontario official wrote. “As such, any media calls will be immediately referred to (the Ministry of Infrastructure).”Minister Surma did not appear at the announcement or take questions about it on the day the closure was confirmed. Her office did not address questions about why she was absent from an announcement her team was leading.

‘Green light for the fencing to start’

With the communications strategy out of the way, Infrastructure Ontario turned its attention to ensuring access to the Ontario Science Centre was swiftly and efficiently closed — all while employees continued to work inside the building. Story continues below advertisement

On June 17, work began to fence off the attraction, with the plan apparently specifically drawn up to avoid tipping people off to the plan to close the structure.“We have a green light for the fencing to start through BGIS,” a senior Infrastructure Ontario official wrote on June 17, referencing a facility management service that seems to have been retained to help with the fence work.“Let us work on the back of house areas first where we are not going to get a lot of attention, but we need to move it forward quickly. We need to be prepped to push the FINAL button on fencing on Thursday night or Friday AM or Friday PM.”

More on Toronto
More videos

A fence was eventually put around the building on the morning of June 21, prompting groups like Save the Ontario Science Centre to head to the site, fearing a closure was coming.“They not only kept it secret, they hired an army of private security to keep people away while they were constructing the fence,” Floyd Ruskin, co-chair of Save the Ontario Science Centre, said.“Our team was there on the Friday morning, the posts for the gates had already been installed — so that means holes were dug, concrete was poured.”While the government has made its intention to relocate the science centre to Ontario Place public since April 2023, the sudden closure — with almost no time between announcement and doors closing for the last time — caught many by surprise. Story continues below advertisement

Ruskin’s group has overseen a letter-writing campaign to save the attraction. He said a key theme in the messages sent to the government was frustration from families that they couldn’t say goodbye.“One of the biggest things said is, ‘We would have liked to have an opportunity to visit one more time,” he said.

Related News

Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia Welcomes Korean Monk Haemin Sunim During Book Tour

Arts & Culture, Books

Images courtesy of the Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia

The Seon (Zen) monk and best-selling author from South Korea Haemin Sunim, recently on a book tour of Indonesia, met the public in Surabaya, Java, on 16 November. The event was organized by Gramedia Popular Library, the Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia, Mitra Uttama, Surabaya University Buddhist Activity Unit, Airlangga University Buddhist Activity Unit, Ciputra University Buddhist Community, and Widya Kartika University Buddhist Student Activity Unit.

The Young Buddhist Association (YBA) is the leading Buddhist youth organization in Indonesia. Through a deeply held conviction in the Buddha’s message of compassion, growth, and liberation, the association promotes a positive lifestyle among the young in order to cultivate a society founded on wisdom, compassion, and gratitude. The association is involved in establishing Buddhist organizations nationwide, propagating the study of the Dharma among young people, and providing leadership training.

During the event, Haemin Sunim gave a Dharma teaching on self-acceptance and overcoming mental health issues, beginning his explanation with a parable of plastic bottles of different sizes. He likened a medium-sized bottle of 600ml to oneself, then introduced a larger one-liter bottle. 

“Usually, opinions will arise, such as ‘I am bigger than you,’ ‘I am better than you,’ and so on,” Haemin Sunim explained. “However, when a smaller 350ml bottle appears, we suddenly feel superior to it. This reflects human nature—how we contstantly compare ourselves to our surroundings.”

Haemin Sunim elucidated that the problems of everyday life actually come from our opinions and perspectives based on external factors that are beyond our control. The more one seeks or pursues what we call ‘happiness’ in external things, the more difficult it becomes to find true happiness, because real happiness can only come from within each person: “If we focus on ourselves, on what we feel right now, on what is right now in front of our eyes, then we can find true happiness.”

He also used sunglasses as a metaphor for the way we view the world and our surroundings. When we become accustomed to living with sunglasses on, we only recognize the world as filtered through the tinted lenses, which represents our preoccupation with our lives in the past and the future. We often fail to realize that if we remove the sunglasses, there’s another state of being that we’ve been missing: life in the present and the present moment.

“If we position ourselves to focus our attention and our emotions on what’s in front of our eyes right now, we no longer feel regret about the past and worry about the future,” Haemin Sunim said. “At that moment, we can experience life with a calm mind and slowly free ourselves from worldly attachments.”

Gramedia Popular Library’s publisher editor, Kathrine Gabby Kusuma, said that Haemin Sunim’s first book, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, had been a bestseller since its first publication in 2020: “It sold more than 30,000 copies [in Indonesia alone].“

She added that Surabaya was the second city of Haemin Sunim’s book tour, following Yogyakarta and to be followed by Jakarta on 17 November: “So there are three cities that will be venues for this book tour. Hopefully this can benefit everyone.”

Meanwhile, YBA chairman Limanyono Tanto observed that amid the fast-paced and stressful dynamics of modern life, many people faced various mental health issues, especially, increasingly, the younger generation. He went on to note that Haemin Suim’s books, Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, Love for Imperfect Things, and, most recently, When Things Don’t Go Your Way, were works that could guide all people in understanding themselves, accepting their shortcomings, and cultivating sincerity.

“Through this collaboration, we hope to continue to inspire a generation of young Buddhists and, indeed, all young people, to love reading and make reading a part of their daily lifestyle,” Limanyono said.

He added that the book tour was also a space for self-reflection—a place where people could take the opportunity can look deeper into the mind and understand the importance of life balance. On behalf of the Young Buddhist Association, he expressed gratitude to Gramedia for bringing Haemin Sunim to present this meaningful event. 

“Haemin Sunim teaches the importance of serenity, acceptance, and compassion toward oneself and others,” Limanyono concluded. “We hope that through this event, more young people can find inspiration, strength, and serenity in facing all the challenges in life.”

Although officially a secular nation, Indonesia is home to a diversity of communities and religious and spiritual traditions. Islam is the most widespread religion, observed by 87 per cent of the population, according to national data for 2022. Christian traditions account for a combined 10.5 per cent, Hinduism 1.7 per cent, and Confucianism, folk, and other traditions account for a combined 0.07 per cent.

Buddhism, practiced by 0.73 per cent of the population—roughly two million people—is the second-oldest spiritual tradition in Indonesia after Hinduism. According to historical accounts, Buddhism first flourished on the archipelago around the sixth century, which was followed by ascent and decline of a number of powerful Buddhist empires, including the Shailendra dynasty (c. 8th–9th centuries), the Srivijaya empire (c. 7th–12th centuries), and the Mataram empire (c. 8th–11th centuries). Today, the majority of Indonesian Buddhists are affiliated with Mahayana schools of Buddhism, although communities of Theravada and Vajrayana practitioners also exist.

See more

Young Buddhist Association of IndonesiaYoung Buddhist Association (YBA) of Indonesia (Instagram)Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia (Facebook)

Related news reports from BDG

Young Buddhist Association of Indonesia and Indonesian Buddhist Women Host Cultural Show by African Buddhist ChildrenYoung Buddhist Association of Indonesia Celebrates Vesak with Record-Breaking Moving SculptureYoung Buddhist Association of Indonesia and Kertarajasa Buddhist College Host Interfaith Mindfulness FestivalYoung Buddhist Association of Indonesia Releases Thousands of Endangered Animals in Mangrove ParkWorld Fellowship of Buddhist Youth Embarks on 2023 Korean Buddhist Cultural Tour

Target Circle members can get 50% off books with this BOGO deal

Arts & Culture, Books

BOOK BOGO DEAL: As of Nov. 20, Target’s Deal of the Day features a buy one, get one 50% off deal for Target Circle members on books.

Credit: Target

Target’s been offering up some excellent deals in the lead-up to Black Friday. In particular, the retailer’s been dropping discounts as part of its Deal of the Day program throughout this month, which features a selection of sales each day on different items for shoppers and exclusives for its Target Circle members. The latest is worth your time if you’ve been hoping to pick up some new books ahead of the holidays.On Nov. 20, Target Circle members can take advantage of a Buy One, Get One 50% off deal on books. This offer applies to a fantastic selection of books as well, whether you’re looking to invest in a massive box set like the fancy leather-cloth A Game of Thrones collection or want to pick up a beloved book like The Wild Robot, there are so many different options to choose from.
SEE ALSO:

The best early Black Friday laptop deals: Score record lows on the M4 MacBook Pro and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7

It’s also not the only Target Circle deal available to members right now. The retailer’s offering a BOGO deal on board games that’s well worth checking out ahead of the holidays, especially if you’re planning some big gatherings. And if you’ve yet to sign up for Target’s free Circle program, it’s worth it for exclusive discounts like these.

Don’t miss out on this one-day-only BOGO deal on books for Target Circle members.

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Target’s official big Black Friday sale kicks off on Nov. 24, and runs all the way through Nov. 30. If you’re curious about what other retailers have planned, it’s worth having a look at our breakdowns of Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon’s Black Friday events to learn more.

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The science of plant communication

Science and Health

More than any organism, plants understand the significance of communication the best. They have a full, rich life of constant communication. While they don’t have a voice, plants do have their language through which they impart informations to others. So, how do they do it? Chemical warning
Plants often stay alert of potential threats and always lookout for the others by letting them know of any dangers. Wondering how? Plants release chemicals into the air when in danger, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which serves as a distress to neighbouring plants to stay alert of the impending threat. When a deer graze a plant, it releases VOCs alerting the neighbouring plants to start producing defensive compounds or toxic substances to keep the herbivores away.
According to a research, these VOCs signals is not just limited to close neighbours. It can travel not only through air but also soil and which helps in protecting plants at considerable distances as well. This one of the most essential way of plant communication that shows their understanding of the surrounding and their prompt response to potential threat or dangers.
Wood wide web
Whenever a plant experience stress – mostly because of pest attacks or droughts – they immediately sends out chemical signals to others through their roots. The signal helps the other plants to guard themselves and prepare for the situation ahead. Biologists and scientists discovered that plants form a symbiotic bond with mycorrhizal fungi that connects roots of different plants and thus named this fungal network ‘wood wide web’. There are several types of plant-friendly fungi attached to the roots of plants that helps in extending the plant’s root system with fungi’s web of filament. This wide network helps the plants to share the nutrients received from fungi to other plants in time of distress.
A friend in need is a friend indeed
According to research, when a growing plant gets to know about their struggling neighbour, they share nutrients to support their neighbour’s growth. This is form of communication is widely noticeable in densely populated forests where there is an intense need for light, water and nutrients.
Plants create a resilient and reliable ecosystem by working together that shows how cooperation can enhance the survival of all and thrive as one. Many studies have shown that often plants prioritise their resources to support close and far plants in distress which helps in the overall forest health.
The way plants communicate with each other portrays a fascinating world around us that we are so unaware of. Chemical signals, underground networking and cooperative behaviour show how resilient and remarkable these quiet organisms could be. So, the next time you walk through a garden or forest, make sure to be aware of the silent conversation that’s happening around you! Published – November 20, 2024 05:00 pm IST
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The science of plant communication

Science and Health

More than any organism, plants understand the significance of communication the best. They have a full, rich life of constant communication. While they don’t have a voice, plants do have their language through which they impart informations to others. So, how do they do it? Chemical warning
Plants often stay alert of potential threats and always lookout for the others by letting them know of any dangers. Wondering how? Plants release chemicals into the air when in danger, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which serves as a distress to neighbouring plants to stay alert of the impending threat. When a deer graze a plant, it releases VOCs alerting the neighbouring plants to start producing defensive compounds or toxic substances to keep the herbivores away.
According to a research, these VOCs signals is not just limited to close neighbours. It can travel not only through air but also soil and which helps in protecting plants at considerable distances as well. This one of the most essential way of plant communication that shows their understanding of the surrounding and their prompt response to potential threat or dangers.
Wood wide web
Whenever a plant experience stress – mostly because of pest attacks or droughts – they immediately sends out chemical signals to others through their roots. The signal helps the other plants to guard themselves and prepare for the situation ahead. Biologists and scientists discovered that plants form a symbiotic bond with mycorrhizal fungi that connects roots of different plants and thus named this fungal network ‘wood wide web’. There are several types of plant-friendly fungi attached to the roots of plants that helps in extending the plant’s root system with fungi’s web of filament. This wide network helps the plants to share the nutrients received from fungi to other plants in time of distress.
A friend in need is a friend indeed
According to research, when a growing plant gets to know about their struggling neighbour, they share nutrients to support their neighbour’s growth. This is form of communication is widely noticeable in densely populated forests where there is an intense need for light, water and nutrients.
Plants create a resilient and reliable ecosystem by working together that shows how cooperation can enhance the survival of all and thrive as one. Many studies have shown that often plants prioritise their resources to support close and far plants in distress which helps in the overall forest health.
The way plants communicate with each other portrays a fascinating world around us that we are so unaware of. Chemical signals, underground networking and cooperative behaviour show how resilient and remarkable these quiet organisms could be. So, the next time you walk through a garden or forest, make sure to be aware of the silent conversation that’s happening around you! Published – November 20, 2024 05:00 pm IST
Read Comments
Copy link

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Facebook

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Telegram

LinkedIn

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Is climate change making tropical storms more frequent? Scientists say it’s unclear

Science and Health

By David StanwaySINGAPORE (Reuters) – An unusual cluster of typhoons in the West Pacific and a series of powerful hurricanes in the Atlantic are raising questions about the impact that climate change is having on tropical storms across the globe.As nations thrashed out the details of a new climate financing package at COP29 talks in Azerbaijan, the Philippines was hit by its sixth deadly typhoon in a month while the United States was recovering from two devastating hurricanes.Scientists say it remains unclear how much climate change is reshaping the storm season, or if it is responsible for the rare appearance of four tropical cyclones at the same time in the West Pacific – the first time this has happened in November since 1961.Higher sea surface temperatures speed up evaporation and provide additional “fuel” for tropical cyclones, boosting rainfall and wind speeds, they say.And the latest assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published in 2023, expressed “high confidence” global warming would make storms more intense.The Philippines’ latest supertyphoon Man-Yi landed on Saturday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents. At least eight people died on Monday, adding to a death toll of more than 160 since October.“It is rare to see a cluster of four tropical cyclones in the western north Pacific at the same time,” said Feng Xiangbo, a tropical storm researcher at Britain’s University of Reading.“(But) blaming climate change … for this unprecedented event this week is not straightforward,” he added.Evidence suggests that while climate change is increasing storm intensity, it has also reduced their frequency, especially during what is typically the late season from October to November, Feng said.This year, atmospheric waves that have recently been active near the equator could be an alternative explanation for the unusual uptick, Feng said, but their relationship with climate change is unclear.The belt of high pressure known as the sub-tropical ridge, part of the global atmospheric circulation system, has been stronger and stretched further north and west than usual, according to Choy Chun Win, Senior Scientific Officer at the Hong Kong Observatory.The ridge could have steered the storms in a westerly direction, diverting them away from cooler waters and wind shears, which would normally weaken them, providing an explanation why four could coexist, he said.“However, more research is required to assess the contribution of climate change to the chance occurrence of the multiple tropical cyclones and the longer tropical cyclone season,” he added.Ben Clarke, weather researcher with London’s Grantham Institute on Climate Change and Environment, said it “would make sense” that rising ocean temperatures would extend the typhoon season, but the evidence is not conclusive.“There has been a clear recent increase in the number of tropical cyclones affecting the Philippines in its less active season from approximately December to February, but this doesn’t tell us much about … June-November,” he said.STRONGER HURRICANESIn an analysis published on Wednesday, U.S. weather researchers Climate Central said Atlantic hurricanes have intensified significantly this year as a result of record-breaking ocean warming.Since 2019, warmer temperatures have driven average wind speeds up by 18 miles per hour (29 kph) and pushed three hurricanes into the highest Category 5, the study said.The two deadly Category 5 hurricanes known as Helene and Milton, which hit Florida in September and October respectively, would have been unlikely without climate change, it said.Research is still ongoing on whether tropical cyclones are becoming more frequent, but there is high scientific confidence that warmer sea temperatures are driving up rainfall and causing higher storm surges, said Daniel Gilford, Climate Central’s lead hurricane researcher.“While other factors contribute to each storm’s strength, the impacts of elevated sea surface temperatures are prominent and significant,” he said.“In the Atlantic, more than 80% of storms since 2019 were clearly influenced by warm ocean temperatures caused by carbon pollution.”(Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Sonali Paul)

In new book, USF geographer does deep dive into springs in Florida

Arts & Culture, Books

Christopher Meindl remembers going on family trips as a child to Ocala, where they’d visit Juniper Springs.“It’s a fabulous looking place,” Meindl, who is associate professor of geography at the University of South Florida, told WLRN.At the age of 10, Meindl went with his father and brother on a canoe trip six or seven miles down the Spring Run. He found the trip scary due to having to push the canoe from shallow to deeper waters, but it’s also where his fascination for water resources began.Florida is home to more than 1,000 freshwater springs, places where water bubbles up from the ground and runs off the landscape. Like Meindl and his family, people have been drawn to interact and enjoy springs for centuries. More recently, the cold bodies of water have become an attraction for residents and tourists alike. Throughout time, springs have also been subject to debates over how best to utilize and protect them.READ MORE: Advocates say so far, Florida’s new plans to heal polluted springs fall shortIn his early days teaching a college course on Florida springs, Meindl started to get a lot of questions that he didn’t have the answers to from his students. As he sought answers, he said he often found something lacking in Florida Springs literature both articles and books.

Christopher Meindl, author of “Florida Springs” is a geography professor at the University of South Florida.

“They were always missing something as far as I was concerned,” he said. “It’s not just about science, water quality and water flow. It’s not just about the historical uses of springs [or] just about what threatens them, the politics and policy associated with water management in Florida, and it’s not just restoration. It’s all of these things put together.”As a response to his predicament, Meindl spent a decade researching springs in the state and put together a comprehensive overview of them. He just debuted first book Florida Springs: From Geography to Politics and Restoration.Meindl recently spoke with WLRN about his work, which will be featured at the Miami Book Fair Sunday, where he will give a presentation.The following Q&A has been edited for brevity. WLRN: Florida has one of the largest concentrations of freshwater springs on Earth. How have people used springs throughout time, particularly Native Americans? Why have these communities been drawn to them? Meindl: There’s sometimes a bit of misunderstanding. Sometimes people think that Native Americans were instantly drawn to Springs and that they lived near them all the time. And that may have happened in some cases, but in other cases, not so much. Very often they were used for ceremonial purposes as gathering places where people from widely disparate environments would congregate and engage in trade. There’s archeological evidence along some of the springs on the St. Johns River that shows tools and other kinds of things made out of stone and other materials that are not from that area. We’ve also found evidence that places have been used as burial grounds and even housing from time to time, but almost never continuously settled. When we think about ancient Native Americans that’s a long period of time. And, so sometimes they may have lived near springs for a long period of time, but then at other times they went away for one reason or another, and we’re not entirely certain why.WLRN: In your book you mentioned how there’s often a disconnect with politicians. They think there’s one thing wrong with springs, but the reality is another. You have outlined in your book how the restoration of springs in Florida has been tied to politics. Can you explain that connection?Meindl: This one has gotten me into a little bit of hot water with springs advocates, people I deeply respect for their work in trying to get politicians to do things to help springs. Part of the problem is with the scientific community. We don’t have enough data [because] we haven’t been monitoring springs for a really long time. Many times we can’t make definitive statements about what’s going on. For example, we might have just a handful of isolated measurements of spring flow at a particular spring. In a few springs, we have some measurements of spring flow going back to 1898, but that’s rare. There’s only a few springs that have really old data like that and it’s usually just one measurement from 1898 and maybe not another measurement of spring flow for another 20 years. We know that spring flow changes throughout the year. And, by the way, the equipment that those people were using a long time ago is not the same equipment we use today. So, how much faith can we put into those measurements? We have to be very careful with them.So, even the scientific community sometimes has a problem definitively describing what’s going on in Florida Springs. And that lack of perfect understanding is a problem for decision makers who look at that and say, “Well, if we don’t know exactly what’s wrong, then how do we fix it?” Sometimes politicians can use that to hide behind inactivity, which I think they did for a long time, or worse, what happens if we latch on to an explanation that appears to make sense at one point in time, but subsequent investigation suggests that maybe things are not as clear cut as we thought?READ MORE: ‘Stop issuing every single permit,’ advocates say. Will Florifa protect its fragile springs?WLRN: What are some of the main threats that Springs in the state face today?Meindl: Number one, Excess algae in many springs is a problem. While springs have always had algae in them and it’s fine, they haven’t always had excess algae. It is a problem because it basically turns out the lights on the rest of the plant community and when the rest of the plant community can’t have access to the sun, they don’t get to do their photosynthesis thing. They die, wither away, and all that’s left is algae. When those other plants go missing, so do all of the other animals that depend on those other plants. Some people think it might be tied to changes in water quality like with excess nitrogen, which is what the state thinks right now.

Christopher Meindl

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Courtesy Of Christopher Meindl Excessive algae floating at the surface of Suwannee County’s Peacock Springs.

Number two: reduced spring flow. I think it is pretty clear that many springs are producing less spring flow, less spring water than they used to. Some people say it’s due to natural changes in rainfall. Maybe it’s due to our increased groundwater pumping. Some people want to blame water bottlers and say, “Oh, they’re the problem with Florida Springs. They’re sucking all this water out of the ground, putting it in bottles, selling it to grocery stores,” and they make a fortune while our springs are withering. I think that is a problem on the Santa Fe River and the springs associated with it, but I don’t think it’s nearly as much of a problem elsewhere.Number three: overcrowding. We have been fruitful and multiplied, and there are now at least 22 million of us and we have about 140 million tourists every year. Many of them do go to Florida Springs. The excess use of Florida Springs is starting to become a problem. People like to float on the inner tubes down the Ichetucknee River, sometimes these places can become more crowded than urban swimming pools. It’s a problem when too many people are in springs, particularly shallow water portions, and they start trampling vegetation that doesn’t have a chance to recover. Then again, that vegetation goes missing and also the animals that count on it.WLRN: What are some of the solutions or things that need to happen to enhance the life of Springs? Meindl: When you go out of state and you drive back into Florida, you see the signs that don’t just say Florida state line. They now say, “welcome to the free state of Florida.” We all like freedom and nobody likes being told what to do. I get that, right? None of us. However, if there are going to be 22 million people living here, plus 140 million tourists every year, there need to be restrictions on our freedom. Because if there are not, then we will continue to watch springs suffer. So what do I mean by restrictions on freedom? One of the things they did at Ichetucknee, and maybe we should do in other places, is in shallow areas, keep people out of them. Let them do the inner tube thing in deeper waters because where there’s deeper waters that people want to get out and splash around their feet can’t trample the vegetation.We could maybe also do things like assess additional fees for water use. When water is free, then people use it and waste it. When it’s more expensive, we’re a little more careful with it.IF YOU GOWHAT: Protecting Florida’s Parks & Ecosystems – NonfictionWHEN: Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m.WHERE: Miami Book Fair at Miami-Dade College Wolfson Campus – MAGIC Screening Room (Building 8, 1st floor)

Seoul Metro apologises for calling Chinese tourists ‘villains’

Travel

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreSeoul Metro has apologised after an employee caused controversy recently by posting a derogatory online response to a public complaint about Chinese-language announcements in subway stations.In response to a complaint, posted on 26 October about “excessive Chinese announcements” in subways and palaces, Seoul Metro wrote on the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s website that groups of Chinese people can become noisy and disruptive, calling them “villains”.“When two or more Chinese gather together, they can get noisy and make a ruckus, turning into villains,” it said. It even suggested adding announcements promoting order among them: “It is necessary we broadcast Chinese announcements encouraging order and good conduct on trains, putting out an enlightening reminder against disorder.”“We will review the possibility of broadcasting announcements only in Korean and English in the future,” it added. However, Seoul Metro later denied reviewing any plan to limit announcements to Korean and English.The post drew backlash for being inappropriate, for exhibiting racial and cultural bias, and for its exclusionary tone.Seoul Metro issued a statement after the controversy grew and publicly apologised for “the inappropriate language and content regarding Chinese tourists in the response to the complaint”.The operator promised to provide “special training” for all employees, including those handling complaint responses, to prevent similar incidents in the future. The company also committed to enhancing its services and implementing stricter content review processes before public release.“We will also ensure that the head of the department replies to such complaints, or at least check the content of the responses,” the company said. “We will make every effort to create a subway environment that foreign tourists can use more conveniently and foster a culture that recognises diversity in our organisation.”Since president Yoon Suk-yeol took office, South Korea has strengthened ties with the US and Japan while distancing itself from China. This shift, coupled with negative media coverage, has fueled anti-China sentiment among young South Koreans, Chung Jae-hung, an expert from the Sejong Institute, was quoted as saying by the Chinese state-run paper The Global Times. A study conducted in March 2022 by the Sinophone Borderlands research team at Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic, said that 80 per cent of South Koreans held a negative perception of China.

Dhaka College, City College students clash at Science Lab

Science and Health

A clash broke out between students of Dhaka College and City College in the capital’s Science Lab area on Wednesday.The conflict began around 2:45 pm, leading to the suspension of traffic in the area. As a result, the surrounding roads experienced severe congestion.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (New Market Zone) Shah Mostafa Tariquzzaman said the clash between Dhaka College and City College students in the Science Lab area originated from an incident on Tuesday.
According to him, the altercation began when some Dhaka College students boarded a bus near the Science Lab, leading to a scuffle with a few City College students. In retaliation, Dhaka College students vandalized parts of City College on Wednesday morning.
The situation escalated around 2:45 pm when City College students took to the streets and advanced toward the Science Lab area. Dhaka College students then positioned themselves nearby. The two groups began hurling bricks and stones at each other during the confrontation.
The clash between the two groups has left several injured, according to eyewitnesses.